Genesis 20

1 And Abraam removed thence to the southern country, and lived between Cades and Sur, and sojourned in Gerara.

Abraham travelled from there towards the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar.

2 And Abraam said concerning Sarrha his wife, She is my sister, for he feared to say, She is my wife, lest at any time the men of the city should kill him for her sake. So Abimelech king of Gerara sent and took Sarrha.

Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

3 And God came to Abimelech by night in sleep, and said, Behold, you die for the woman, whom you have taken, whereas she has lived with a husband.

But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.”

4 But Abimelech had not touched her, and he said, Lord, will you destroy an ignorantly [sinning] and just nation?

Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?

5 Said he not to me, She is my sister, and said she not to me, He is my brother? with a pure heart and in the righteousness of my hands have I done this.

Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”

6 And God said to him in sleep, Yes, I knew that you did this with a pure heart, and I spared you, so that you should not sin against me, therefore I suffered you not to touch her.

God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her.

7 But now return the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and shall pray for you, and you shall live; but if you restore her not, know that you shall die and all your.

Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”

8 And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and he spoke all these words in their ears, and all the men feared exceedingly.

Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.

9 And Abimelech called Abraam and said to him, What is this that you have done to us? Have we sinned against you, that you have brought upon me and upon my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me a deed, which no one ought to do.

Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!”

10 And Abimelech said to Abraam, What have you seen in [me] that you have done this?

Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”

11 And Abraam said, Why I said, Surely there is not the worship of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.

Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’

12 For truly she is my sister by my father, but not by my mother, and she became my wife.

Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13 And it came to pass when God brought me forth out of the house of my father, that I said to her, This righteousness you shall perform to me, in every place into which we may enter, say of me, He is my brother.

When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

14 And Abimelech took a thousand pieces of silver, and sheep, and calves, and servants, and maidservants, and gave them to Abraam, and he returned him Sarrha his wife.

Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife, to him.

15 And Abimelech said to Abraam, Behold, my land is before you, dwell wherever it may please you.

Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”

16 And to Sarrha he said, Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver, those shall be to you for the price of your countenance, and to all the women with you, and speak the truth in all things.

To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.”

17 And Abraam prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his women servants, and they bore children.

Abraham prayed to God. So God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.

18 Because the Lord had fast closed from without every womb in the house of Abimelech, because of Sarrha Abraam's wife.

For the LORD had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.